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Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke and Other Misfortunes by Eric LaRocca
97 reviews
jalecd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
An unsettling depiction of obsession, kink, and how human nature often makes us seek out the very things that destroy us. A visceral and uncomfortable read.
The Enchantment - 2/5
With key themes of religiosity, grief, and what grief can do to the human psyche, I expected a bit more from the plot. Ultimately, I was left with more questions than answers, and honestly a bit confused by the plot.
You’ll Find It’s Like That Over - 3/5
An enjoyable read commenting on people pleasing and the human desire to maintain social etiquette no matter the cost. It was a bit anti-climactic but I enjoyed the build up
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racism and Lesbophobia
madelinequinne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
ohdearmariie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Gore, Mental illness, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
auteaandtales's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Fatphobia, Gore, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
likeagilmoregirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
szyca's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Abandonment
xalrynne's review against another edition
3.75
So this was the most disturbing story I’ve ever read. I’ve heard about this book a lot without ever hearing what this book was about. I’m trying to find my niche horror genre so I’ve been reading different types of horror stories lately, and this was definitely the most disturbing of the bunch.
“Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke” is an epistolary novel that chronicles the correspondences between two people. It dives deep into manipulation in a master/slave type of relationship. That’s all I’m going to say though because I think it’s best to go in knowing little.
I don’t really know what to rate this story as I couldn’t look away and was completely engaged as I flew through the narrative, but I also don’t know if I really enjoyed it or not. The story will stick with me as it’s definitely unforgettable, but it’s also just so disturbing. I know I’ve already used that word in this review but it really is the best way to describe this novella. It’s disturbing and gross and, at times, baffling. It’s almost like the author deliberately included scenes that were intended to have the biggest shock value with the reader.
Even saying all that, I would recommend this to fans of horror—maybe specifically those of body horror?—and fans of fast-paced epistolary stories.
“The Enchantment”—3.5/5 stars
Once again, this was disturbing, but not as much as “Things Have Gotten Worse.” Maybe that’s just Eric LaRocca’s style.
It’s about a couple who goes to live on an island all alone when weird things start happening to them.
I thought this story started out strong and had a good middle, but I didn’t love how it ended, mostly due to the fact that the story isn’t speculative but then adds in speculative elements at the end. I think I have found that I prefer non-speculative horror, while I prefer speculative elements solely in fantasy and sci-fi instead.
I am curious after reading the first two stories what the author’s fixation is with crucifixion as it comes up in both stories.
“You’ll Find It’s Like That All Over”—3/5 stars
This was the weakest story in the collection for me. Still interesting, but not as memorable and disturbing as the first two.
A man finds a shard of bone in his backyard with his neighbor’s initials carved into it and begins to investigate it. This story is about how far one will go to maintain appearances to continue being a “good neighbor.”
As stated in the author’s afterward, all three stories in this collection focus on the human desire to connect with someone or something else, and to what extent someone will go to find or maintain that connection. I appreciated that they all had a connecting theme to tie them together. I would recommend this collection to fans of macabre horror stories that shock you and make you think.
Graphic: Death and Suicide
Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Violence, and Grief
wellreadandhalfdead's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Mental illness and Suicide
Minor: Homophobia and Vomit
zuuizai's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The first story was the best of the three. I really understood and thought that both Agnes and Zoe were well fleshed out characters. I also enjoyed both the theme of religion and the need for human connection in all of the stories.
I felt like the other stories were missing something. The enchantment especially. It felt like a lot was left out. For example, why did Olive and her son have black circles on their hands. It just felt slightly pointless and like the author wasn't sure where the story was going.
I think this book highly lacks in the horror department. It just seemed like the author was trying to throw in as many disturbing things as he could for shock value. I understand that horror does that a lot as a genre, but it was still highly ineffective. Most of the scenes which were meant to be 'scary' just made me think "ew, thats gross".
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Blood
Moderate: Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Infidelity, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Excrement, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
waverlyloyd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, and Toxic friendship